There's only six different holes, so it's tough to screw up.

Whistle
1

Today I read a very interesting remark about whistle playing. Here it goes:

In ITM, I think it’s really important to try, especially if you haven’t got a clue what you’re doing. Bring a bodhran for your first few sessions, or if you can’t afford one, borrow some spoons from the bar. Eventually you’ll be ready to start playing the tin whistle. At ten bucks, it’s a great way to join the fun without spending any money. Or time, even. There’s only six different holes, so it’s tough to screw up.

I love it! :slight_smile:

2

It’s obvious that the authour of that clipping has never tried to get around those different holes himself.. :laughing:

Slan,
D.

3

You can bet your Susato I never wrote that.

Spoons, indeed. :really:

4

lol! Boy have they got it coming when they try to bring their “oh so easy to play” instrument to sessions…and discover that it’s not as easy as it looks.

~Crysania

5

I beg to differ … I have no problems screwing up with only 6 holes. My fingers know which holes to cover … my brain knows which holes to cover .. but there are times when the electrical system appears to be faulty and I cover or uncover the wrong holes. Or .. find that I am a little late or a little early with the rest of the group. I know that this never happens to anyone else. :boggle:

Jim

6

Maybe if the six holes are so easy he should try a Tabor pipe. After all he can play that with one hand.


Ron

7

Only three valves on a french horn. One slide on a trombone. Four strings on a fiddle.
Those must be even easier.

8

I’d like to know where he lives. A car has only one steering wheel and two pedals. I’d hate to be driving in the same city with him.

9

Azalin, where did you find this concise and lovely bit of wisdom? Dare I say my life is changed…

10

My guess is he/she walks to work on stilts or rides a unicycle! :laughing:

11

They’ve obviously never heard me play. :smiley:

12

I guess that would make Fiddle just as easy I mean it only has four strings. What about Concertina it only has 30 (standard Anglo) buttons. What about Uillean Pipes it only has 7 reeds. Who ever wrote that should try playing something like “Christmas Eve” on whistle at full (120 bpm) speed. What an idiot.

13

Well, it’s a she and it was meant as a joke, kinda. Full text is here:

http://www.thesession.org/members/display.php/707

I gotta admit, that’s some funny stuff!

14

Singers just move there mouth and lungs. That should be so easy, we should accidently sing everytime we burp, sneeze or yawn. In our finest opera voice, of course.

15

Thanks for that, Az. That was hilarious. It should go on the “must read” list for all newbs.

Cheers,
Aaron

16

The whole piece is a hoot!

It would be a good one to post in one of the session etiquette threads, doncha think?

Best wishes,
Jerry

17

Wow. I never new it was so easy to fit in. I’ll bring an empty coffee can as a substitute bodhran and paradiddle on the jigs.

18

Just bring the lid.

19

Az - thanks for finding that…it started my work day off with a laugh. Kerri gives some sound advice - much more useful than the Field Guide to the Irish Session.

Eric

PS - Have you ever noticed how challenging spoons are? I’ve been taking tongs to my session lately, and no matter how much you drink they stay together! Just my tip of the day…

20

Talking about spoons, I’ve heard a very funny song on sunday at a friend’s house. It’s about this spoon player who’s actually getting murdered at a session for playing spoons and pissing off every other musicians. It sounds horrible, but it’s just sang in this funny irish humour way, I was laughing like crazy. Anyway, maybe some others have heard the song before.